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Ideal pub to visit for a meal in Wakefield.

The Red Kite is a cosy pub/restaurant situated just off the M1, Junction 39 in Wakefield.I first discovered The Red Kite a few years ago when passing through Wakefield and enjoyed a lovely meal there. Since that first visit I have returned a number of times, and have always enjoyed my visits.

The pub is situated on the outskirts of Calder Business Park, which has been developed to also include a lake and acres of space for wildlife, including swans, ducks and other wildfowl. Away from the city centre, and near to a country park, the pub is comfortable and quiet, despite being not far from the motorway.

The pub from the outside looks very cosy and appealing, and has quite a large beer garden which is lovely on a nice warm day. You can also eat outside if you wish, and this is very popular in the summer on those rare hot days! There are plenty of car parking spaces available.There is also a blackboard near to the entrance with a handwritten chalk message from the landlord Paul, welcoming you to the pub, which I feel is a nice touch.

On one of my subsequent visits to The Red Kite, I noticed a statue had been erected, and discovered this was to celebrate the unusual claim to fame that Wakefield is known as the capital of The Rhubarb Triangle, which is an area famous for its early forced rhubarb!

Inside the pub it does have a very welcoming and cosy atmosphere, with it's open fires, low wood beamed ceilings, stone floors and dark wood tables.The staff are welcoming and friendly and you choose where you want to sit and order any drinks or food at the bar. The food is then brought to your table, but if you want any further drinks or a dessert then the waiting staff are happy to fetch them for you.

The menu is quite large and offers a range of starters, mains and desserts, as well as snacks, sharing plates and lighter options. All the meals are freshly prepared so you may have to wait a little while, but it is worth the wait as the food is delicious. I have found every meal I have had here to be very tasty, well cooked and freshly prepared.As well as the main menu, there are blackboards inside the pub with daily specials advertised.

On my recent visit, me and my partner enjoyed sharing some Mediterranean Breads which came served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. There was enough for both of us as it is a sharing dish and cost only £2.00.I also enjoyed the homemade soup (£2.95) and my partner had a prawn cocktail (£4.50). Other starters include French Onion Soup, Duck Liver Pate, and Breaded Mushrooms with a Garlic Dip. I can also recommend Coquilles St. Jacques (£5.95), which is king scallops in a white wine and herb cream, and then topped with farmhouse cheddar and served with salad and a tomato dressing. My partner loves this, but the only problem is, he finds it hard to finish a main course after eating it!

I am a fan of the Open Chicken Pie (£7.50) for main course, but can also recommend the Handmade Salmon Fishcakes (£6.95) or Beef, Mushroom and Guiness Pie (£7.95).All main courses come with potatoes, cheddar mash, seasoned chips or salad, and there is an extensive choice available, which also includes a large range of speciality fish dishes such as Baked Sole Fillets with Smoked Salmon, Grilled Tuna Steak and Roast Monkfish Fillet as well as a luxury Fish Pie. Or if you prefer there is a simple Beer Battered Fish and Chips. All fish dishes are priced between £7.25 and £11.50.

As well as the fish dishes there are grilled steaks and burgers, as well as Vegetarian options, and it is worth checking the blackboard for more Vegetarian dishes as well as what is on the menu. Sunday lunches are also very popular here.As it is coming up to the winter, there are also a number of Winter Warmer dishes such as casseroles, stews and curries on the menu.

After usually having a starter and main course, both myself and my partner never have room for a dessert but there are plenty to choose from, including Warmed Chocolate Brownie and Banoffee Cheesecake, all priced between £3.25 - £4.45.

When ordering your food you are given a wooden spoon to place on your table, then your meals are brought over to you when ready. The portions are generous and well presented, and the staff friendly and helpful.It is very cosy in the winter months sitting in front of the open fire enjoying your meal and a drink.

Speaking of drinks, the pub serves a range of cask ales and beers including Black Sheep Bitter, Marston's Pedigree and Timothy Taylor's. The range of beers does change from time to time, and there are also a variety of wines and soft drinks available, as well as the usual spirits and mixers.

I do think the meals are reasonably priced and have enjoyed everything I have had. There is no need to book a table, and meals are served all day every day until 10pm (9.30pm on Sunday), though I would point out it does get very busy on Sunday's as people visit for lunch.

Overall, this is a lovely country-style pub, which I can highly recommend if you are visiting or passing through Wakefield. It is just a couple of minutes drive from the popular Pugneys Country Park, which makes it an ideal place to visit after spending some time there.